Sole straightener



Sept. 19, 1950 R. P. POHLMANN 2,522,636

SOLE STRAIGHTENER Filed April so. 1948 f? Fig.3

3 4 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 Richard P. Pohlmann, Davenport, Iowa Application April 30, 1948, Serial No. 24,375

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in sole straighteners for shoes and the objects of my invention are to provide a device of superior simplicity, efiiciency and ease of operation for application to the soles of shoes so as to straighten them when not being worn.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device applied to a shoe;

Figure 2 is a top or plan view with the shoe omitted;

Figure 3 is a detail showing the arrangement of the bores in the toe plate.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My device comprises a toe plate preferably formed with a bar or plate I of sheet metal having the front end upturned and flanged at 6 so as to engage the front end of the sole l of a shoe. The rear end 2 of the plate I, is inclined downwardly at an angle so as to increase the straightening effect of the plate I when tension is applied thereto.

The inclined portion 2 of the toe plate is provided with holes or bores 3, 4 and 5 arranged to permit the insertion of the cord or thong 1 one end of which may be secured to the toe plate by a knot 9 formed therein adjacent the bore or opening 3 while the other end passes through the bores 4 and 5 and may be secured against displacement by pressure of the end portion of the cord 1 upon the short portion passing from the bore 4 to the bore 5. The intermediate part of the cord or thong 1 passes around the heel of the shoe and is engaged by the slight depression formed between the body l2 of the shoe and the heel H.

The free end of the cord I may have another knot 8 formed therein to prevent its being displaced or drawn backward through the bore 5.

In the operation of this device, the cord or thong 1, which is preferably elastic, has one end passed through one of the bores as at 3 and a knot 9 tied therein. The other end is then passed through the other two bores as at 4 and 5 successively as shown in Figure 2 and a knot 8 formed in the free end thereof. The flanged portion 6 of the plate is then applied to the tip or front end of the sole Ill and the intermediate portion of the cord I placed around the heel as shown in Figure 1. The cord is then tightened by having the free end drawn through the bores 4 and 5. If desired, the cord may be adjusted to form a loop of the desired length before being applied to the shoe and the loop placed upon the heel after the toe plate has been applied.

As the cord is thus tightened, the inclined portion 2 will be drawn upwardly thereby bringing the flanged portion 6 downwardly so as to straighten the sole Ill. When the desired degree of tension has been obtained, the free end 8 may be released and the bores 4 and 5 will tend to retain it in its tightened position, in addition to which, the other end of the loop passing over that part of the cord between the bores 4 and 5 will exert pressure thereon and assist in holding it taut.

Any desired kind of metal may be used for the plate I but I prefer to use a relatively thin plate of stainless steel having a limited amount of spring or resilience,

Likewise, the cord 1 may be of any suitable form of fiber or may be formed from buckskin or other suitable thong leather.

Some modifications may be made in the form and proportions of my device and the number and arrangement of the bores without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not limit my claims to the precise forms shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A shoe sole straightener comprising a flat plate having its front end upturned and flanged to engage the toe of the sole of a shoe and its rear end inclined downwardly and provided with three bores or openings in triangular relation, a cord arranged for one end to pass through two of said bores and the other end to pass through another bore with a knot formed on that end to prevent detachment thereof, for attachment to said plate, with the intermediate portion of the cord arranged to pass around and engage the heel of the shoe, said cord and bores being so arranged that the portion of the cord passing through the one bore will bear upon the portion of the cord between the two other bores and tend to bind or fix it against displacement when applied to a shoe.

2. In a shoe sole straightener, the combination with a flat plate having its front end upturned and flanged to engage the toe of the sole of a shoe and its rear end inclined downwardly and provided with a plurality of bores or openings, of a cord arranged for one end to pass through two of said bores and the other end to pass through another bore with a knot formed on that end to prevent detachment thereof, for attachment to said plate, with the intermediate portion of the cord arranged to pass around and engage the heel that the portion of the cord passing through the one bore will bear upon the portion of the cord between the other two bores and tend to bind or fix it against displacement when applied to a shoe and the inclined rear portion of said plate being so proportioned as to hold portions of said cord adjacent the upper face thereof in close contact with the sole of the shoe.

RICHARD P. POHLMANN.

The following references are of record in the 4 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date Loomis Aug. 11, 1914 MacGillivray Aug. 11, 1931 

